Fiesta 2017 Poster Unveiled

Therese Spina’s poster selected for upcoming Fiesta San Antonio

By Kathleen Petty

If there was such a thing as a “benevolent Godzilla,” artist Therese Spina imagines it would look something like the dancer portrayed on the 2017 Fiesta poster.

“I envisioned a larger-than-life dancer personifying Fiesta (and) stepping over the skyline of San Antonio,” she said, speaking to a crowd of about 400 who had gathered on Thursday night at the Witte Museum’s Mays Family Center for the official poster reveal. “Sort of like a benevolent Godzilla taking over the entire city with color, glamour, excitement and the fun of Fiesta.”

Spina’s poster was selected from 25 finalists. Though there are several intricate and hidden details—including the outline of the Alamo on the dancer’s shoe—Spina said the design took only about a week to finalize and complete.

The New Braunfels resident who’s lived in the San Antonio area since she was 19 said she’s been painting since she was about 4. When she decided to submit a design to the Fiesta poster contest, Spina said she knew right away that she wanted it to depict how all-encompassing Fiesta is for the community. “All I can say is, ‘Wow,’” Spina said, after the announcement was made. “I couldn’t be more honored really.”

Fiesta 2017 is scheduled for April 20-30. It will be the 126th anniversary of Fiesta. The poster and related merchandise already are on sale at the Fiesta Store and at fiesta-sa.org.